Library

The Rome Unit’s “summative assessment” is a “Day in the Life of a Roman” diary entry.

The final draft is due Friday, November 16, 2018 (just in time for Thanksgiving Break).

This is a 50-point (40 as below, plus 10 for breathing), Reading / Writing / Research assignment (one of those 40%-of-your-grade ones!).

The Medieval World

Day in My Life in Rome Assignment

Pt

Requirements

2

Narrative form – it tells a story (starts with waking up; ends with making an entry in diary or journal at end of the day)

2

First person -- (I / me / my), past tenses

2

Setting -- C. 100 CE, during the Pax Romana, at the height of Rome’s power, somewhere in the Roman Empire (either the city of Rome itself, or any city or town or rural village anywhere under Rome’s control)

2

Main character – YOU, inasmuch as you will be writing in the first person. “You” are a fictitious (not historically real) Roman citizen or subject (a subject is someone who isn’t a citizen but lives under the state’s authority and control). “You” may be any age old enough to reasonably write a journal entry. “You” can be from any class or social level. “You” may have any occupation. Your family can be the same people as your real family are, or not – that is up to you. You do not need to change your ethnicity to be Roman in your diary entry-- nearly every race / ethnicity in the known world was represented in the city of Rome and throughout the empire – but you may if you want to. “You” may be any gender.

NB: Please, you are not “modern you” transported to the ancient Roman Empire by “time machine” for a day!!!!

2

Bibliography: You need to cite your textbook and any other source you use (and you must use other sources) in MLA format at the bottom of your personal narrative. Mr. Z will show you how

20

Historical accuracy and detail --

The whole point of this assignment is to creatively show-what-you-know about everyday life in ancient Rome.

Historical detail and accuracy is absolutely KEY to a successful story (and grade!). There is no “required number” of historical details… just work in enough naturally to give your piece historical authenticity. It’s the little details that add up to a big grade.

Be wary of including anachronisms (details that do not belong in ancient Rome)! For example: Romans did not take “showers” -- they went to the baths. Romans didn’t “brush their teeth (at least, not the way we do). Romans weren’t named “Joe” or “Susan.” Romans wouldn’t write “Dear Diary,” etc. Finally, NB: Rome has a history, and it is well-recorded. Do not contradict that history, e.g., by making yourself a female emperor, or contriving a war that didn’t happen, etc.

10

Final presentation:

Your first rough draft must be written in your history notebook.

Your final, presentation draft must be written on un-lined paper, rolled up like a scroll, and tied in the middle with a piece of string or twine (if it is multiple pages – and it should be – tape or glue the pages together at their edges). Refer to Z’s “library” for examples. You do not need a dowel in the center (but it would be cool…especially if you would like a Roman coin).

Your final draft should be basically free of errors in conventions – spelling, grammar, capitalization. Romans didn’t have word processors (they used metal pens dipped in ink and wrote on animal skins) but honestly, if you type it, it’ll be easier for me to read.

Please – no flowery fonts. Use Times New Roman in 11- or 12-point font.